Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1887-11-29
THE GERMAN ARMY.
THE cRoUcHlSo TIGER READY ON
The FRENCH FRONTIER LINE.
Turning Out the Nea si All Hours es
Night q. ~ War Were Actually DE.
si.red-sobismsn - rri,s'es-Estrs-
ordinary System.

lufuin- out thf ~" ~ u.s. $500"
Night ss 10 War Were Actually de-
si.red-Sobismsn - rri,siss-Esirs-
ordinary sysssu,.
Once inside the city of Metz you iind
discipline, aari work and the results of q
perfect military system. Fully half the
people you 40 on the streets are soldisrs
In the city of Metz to-day there Anr "a, 900
men. Along the frontier, IA positions
where they can be concentrated upon the
borler within twenty.four hours. there
are over 10000 men. In time of peace
the confinement ~ ~ large n number of
men n are az Metz within such c.rtum.
scTlled quarters would simply result In
lcense. idlcncss and dissipation. Hut
there Ia nothing ~ the sort to L. seep nj
Meta The men arc too constantly ocCu.
fdc,i. The private soldiers aru turned cut
M o'clock In the morning. II Il drill.
drlll frum morning till right. The men
nrc marched and couhtermarrhe,i- They
arc exercised In every form ~ evolution
which cOnii bc employed In actual war.
The ofilocrs ar constantly seouring the
country hunting up new difficulties to
teach their men % overcome by preiimi'
nary driil. such discipline. such sub"r'
dlnAtlon, do not think was ever sur
passe-i In any army. The osiecr wear
their uniforms constantly. II 10 brvafh
~ discipline. and ~ the most serious char
acier. for them 10 appear In public In
civilian drrss. These officers have no time
for social ho-pltAllties. They never make
calls or accept invitations, except among
themselves. Thcrc Il very little entertain.
Inc even among the officers ON the borisr.
They are too occupied with their military
duties, IN the psrfecting ~ this trcmsn'
dous military machine which each day
grows more and more formidable.
The perfection ~ the discipline of the
German army can only - understood W
witnessing its actual operation. To begin
with, the private soldiers are thoroughly
trained physically, as well A. IN the men
tAi details - the military profession. They
are all accomplished gymnasts. Although
the inen In many - the regiments are "
medium sifc they look strong. hardy ani
rrsolnic The German army l. perfectly
Democratic In the placing a iis incn. The
sons ~ the t,st families who wish merely
% serve their three years term. have 10
begin Ia the ranks As common soldiers.
Those who wish o. adopt the army as q
profession arr placed In special schools,
And accOrllng to tho examination. they
ARE placed IN corTcspondingiy tstisr posi'
tiOu than those who are merely ssr,ins
their thrrc yrarS' term. hut when once
man enier the army his private social
position l. absolutely ignored heard
when was In Meta ~ q am % n most
distinguished family being called upon to
DO hls thrrc years servicc. Ills head
gardener. who was caile, out NJ the SANE
time anil who had previously scrvcd. vas
given his old position ~ sergeant The
Young noblsnan was placed In the ranks
as private and under the command q
nj. servant. the gardener. The very hrsi
day % his service the priyaics of hts CON.
pany wvre put 10 wheeling dirt for some
hrvasiwofks The sergeant could not
bear 90 zee his master. son engaged In
this msniAl work AMI took off hi. coat and
did his sharr for him, but this simply re-
suited In the punishment % the sergeant
for a brvach u discipline
The respect which a subordinate must
pay to his superior extends throughout
every hour and minute a the day Whsr.
ever the subordinate meets hls superior In
rank be must extend to him the same Oh.
ciAi rccoguiiion % this superiority that
he wOuh exhibit upon the actual parade
ground. The Brst night ~ my arrival Ia
Meta I was dining at the table d'hote.
when heavy, thick set German officer
entered the ruom. a slight, Aristocraiic
looking German ofiicer, also IN uniform,
was lclsur,ly eating his dinner and talk.
lng with n friend when this officcr entered
the room. The moment the latter entered
the young officcr stood up frOm the table
and sAluted. lie stood with his hand az
the aide ~ hls head IN the attitude ~
salute until the advancing ofilocr returned
the salute and told him politely "a At
down. Ia th.s particular case ! after
wards learned that the ofilcer superior In
rank was a former tradesman In the town
wherc the younger offioer, the only sou OF
q noble family. was one a it, 90
cial leaders. The two men In civil life
would nOt know each other socially. Dut In
the army the trAdesmAn's position com.
mAnded the absolute respect and obedience
of the nObleman. merVly give this m.
stance ~ an illustration oi the absolute
perfection of the military suborilnatlon In
the German army. I noticed this Gu.
siantly n the Officers came Into the dining
room. Every ofiioer who came in saluied
those present, and thoso saluted either
arose or bowed formally, according To
their relative ranks The working o. this
discipline, which was shown In n hotel
dining room. was Of course common at all
places of public or private meeting. When
the officers pass each other upon tho
streets. no matter II IL Il twenty times n
day, the same ceremony, only Ia n moro
curt fashion, is gone through with. Tho
punishment for any breach ~ discipline 10
swift and severe. Yet Ia spite u the rigor
Of the discipline and the tremendous work
involved, all 81 the officers aud the men
look comfortable and oontentsd.
but In nothing "a the perfection of prep
Aration shown more than In the signals at
night and in the sudden arming and turn.
Ing out q the entire force along the from.
tier upon the shortest possible notice.
The German soldier, when be retires nc
night, never knows whether he viii be
called cut within the next ten minutes or
at any time of night. ~ o'clock the
signal viii be given and then an order IL
called out for tho men, and instantly the
entire garrison az Metz viii IL placed In
line. Men viii DO sent out at double
quick up and down the streets, cavalry
will 60 Gathering ont into the darkness,
the artlllepmen viii be WHIPPED out at
their posts with the kame suifincss and
rush rs II the enemy were actually at
their gates And then there Will follow q
shower Of rockets. These lead 90 hillside
fires, one hillside lights up another, and 30
the blaze Of light runs along down the
long line Of the frontier, calling out by its
Ing that could happen now In the way OF
demonstration upon the part OF frnnce
could ind the Germans uDprcpared. They
are united. harmonious and have Perfect
military Arm.-r. c. crawford's Letter In
New York World.